It is with profound sorrow, shock, and heartbreak that we share our grief over the unimaginable tragedies that have shaken our community this week.

We mourn the devastating loss of Brown University students Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook in Rhode Island, and the senseless murder of Dr. Nuno Loureiro, a brilliant Portuguese scientist, beloved professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a tremendous source of pride for our community. These lives, taken far too soon by acts of unspeakable violence, weigh heavily on our hearts.

Our deepest condolences, thoughts, and prayers are with the families, friends, colleagues, and loved ones of the victims. Their pain is immeasurable, and their lives have been forever changed by these brutal and incomprehensible acts.

We are further devastated by the knowledge that these horrific attacks were carried out by a single individual, a Portuguese immigrant who had lived in the United States for more than 20 years. While there is some relief in knowing the perpetrator has been found dead, the realization that such violence was committed by someone connected to our broader community has left us struggling with grief, disbelief, and anguish.

We stand united with our heartbroken community in unequivocally condemning these heinous acts. Violence has no place among us, and it does not reflect the values of the Portuguese immigrant community in Massachusetts or across this nation. Our community is one defined by compassion, integrity, hard work, and care for one another, and we reject any attempt to associate us with such cruelty.

As we grieve these profound losses, we also recognize the deep emotional toll such tragedies take on all of us. Healing will take time, but together we will support one another, honor the lives that were lost, and reaffirm our commitment to peace, unity, and the shared promise of the American dream.

May the memories of those we lost be a blessing, and may they rest in peace.